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Comeback Player Needs Advice

#21
I would never want to bash, but I haven't played any that moved me much. I once played a 5 string that sounded good, but the B-string was flabby. Don't remember the model though.

I play Country, Blues, Rockabilly, Roots Rock, so you would probably never see one strapped to me.

If I played metal or hard rock maybe I would lend them an ear, and of course my opinion is for myself so take it for what it is worth to you. I just have a certain soft spot in my heart for Vintage appeal i.e. Fender Jazz, P, Stingray, etc...

Good luck and good to have you back.
 
#22
I've seen a Spector NS2000 floating around for 350 on the TB classifieds, if its still there, thats a KILLER deal, for a Spector. I'd definatly keep looking into the Classifieds. I've herd some great things about the Peavy Fury, but I played a horrible one, so I can't say they are all amazing. I've also seen a few SX's that really rock, and I'm sure if you threw some Barts in there or something you'd have an extremely hot pick up system, or you could keep it at a SX. Since all you're doing is just having fun, the SX may be your best bet. www.rondomusic.com
Another good idea would be a used SUB 4, I've seen a few go for about 350. I don't mean to spam, but I have a SUB 5 for 325+shipping if that suits your fancy.
Used is your friend as you know. And ya MIM fenders have really gone up in price, :crying: not good for the bassists on a budget.
 
#25
Bass2x said:
Thanks all. Made a sweet deal on a new (demo) G&L Tribute L-2000. Lookin forward to having it in my hands. Appreciate all the advice. Sooo, on to the next step... what's the amp scene like?
Click to expand...

Used Carvin PB 300 (combo or head) or PB 500 (head only). I had the old PB300 combo (15” speaker with tweeter) years ago and it was one of the best sounding amps I ever had. Currently I have an old Carvin PB 300 head with a beater KMD 4x10 cab and I think it sounds great. The amp is certainly a workhorse because I’ve gigged all over with it and despite plenty of bumping around in my car and on stage and countless beer spills, this thing has never let me down. I see them from time to time on eBay way cheap.

Also, used Peavey T-Maxx combos (they had both 2x10s and 1x15s setups). They both sound great and have plenty of power. Years ago I tried a T-Maxx 2x10 combo with a 15” extension cab and WOW did that setup sound great! Why Peavey stopped building these puppies is a mystery to me.

If you want new gear, I see that Beringer has a 300 watt head and inexpensive cabs worth checking out. The amp got a pretty good review in Bassplayer and the aluminum cone 4x10 cab received an "ok" review. I've tried the amp married to some new Peavey 4x10 and I thought it sounded pretty damn good.

r
 
#27
I used to play thru a Sunn combo - no need for that kind of power anymore. The technology must be way different now, and I don't know the market, but something that would match my Tribute quality/price wise and I'm thinking one-piece unit, just enough power for a small room. Used to be we had to have 18" speakers, but it looks like that has changed - I see alot of 15" and double 10"s. What wattage am I looking for?
 
#30
What are you looking to do as a bass player? Never leave the bedroom? Gig occansionally? Get together with other players?

I would say a safe rule of thumb is not to get anything lower than 300W if you plan to cover most situations that gigs could present. Any gig that needs more volume than that you can use the PA support.

Many times you will also need at least this amount of power for band jams, get togethers, etc...

If you will just be a bedroom picker then a small combo would work for you. I had a Hartke Kickback 12 that sounded pretty good for the $$$. You can probably pick one up pretty cheap these days. I also had an SWR workingmans 15 that sounded pretty good. Both of these amps have direct outs, and it would be possible to gig with something the size of the SWR and run direct.

Give a little more info on what your plan is...
 
#31
At this point, the plan is to jam with 3 - 4 pieces (keyboard, drums, guitar, occassional horn) in a small room, and to record original pop tunes (one of the players has had some interest from an indie label). No club dates or live comm'l gigs.
 
#33
It sounds as if you would need the bigger amp just to cover all bases. It sucks outgrowing your gear and really not being able to purchase anything else because of funds.

The G&L is a good step because if you feel that you need a more costly bass later it will serve as a great backup, and it can do a believable Fender Jazz, P-Bass, Stingray, and many of its own tones.

You do not have to have the best amp in the world, but get something reliable. Amps are where you can drop tons of money and if you don't make wise purchases you can find yourself needing or wanting something different real soon. There are many opinions and tastes out there, but in a moderate price range I would say that Gallien Krueger would do you pretty well.

If you can afford $800 I would say that you could probably get a used Eden Metro. They sound great, easy to use, 2 channels, and you will not outgrow it because you can always add extension cabs, but it is perfect by itself for small to medium size gigs and rehearsals. (Especially with the G&L because the L-2000 pickups are extremely powerful)

Let me know how much is in your budget.
 
#36
Welcome to TalkBass. No matter how hard you try you'll never get the music out of your system, so you might as well resign yourself to that fact and get back to it. :)

TB is one of, if not THE, largest bass forum on the planet with thousands of members. Everyone has a slightly different opinion... but the good news is that folks are friendly for the most part and generally try to be helpful.

There's some very good advice here already... as far as instruments go, get yourself out to one of the "superstore" type music stores and play everything you can get your hands around the neck of. It's even better if they happen to have used or consignment instruments to try. This will help you narrow the field. Another key point... you want to actually play any instrument that you're considering before you plunk down your cash. It's not always possible, but it's of paramount importance if you can manage it.

Some good basses to look at, especially if you can find a used one... MusicMan and G&L are both fairly consistent for good build quality, playability and won't totally break the bank. Further, they're both companies that Leo Fender helped to "father" so the basses will not feel unfamiliar to you. Another consideration might be the Valenti basses. There are literally hundreds of brands out there so hold on because you're about to have a plethora of names tossed your way. Check the TB classified section as suggested. Oh, and stay on the lookout for Sadowsky strings in your neck of the woods, with DR as the next best choice, but that's in my opinion (IMO).

Once you've found a bass that suits you hop on over to the Amps forum here for some further suggestions.

Cheers,

Andrew
 
#37
I love SIT strings. My favorites are the Silencer pressurewounds. They're a happy medium between rounds and flats. Also, they're not expensive. Feel and sound is to die for. I won't use anything else.

Elixirs are impressive with how long they last, but I generally don't like the feel of coated strings.
 
#38
Reading an Elixir thread in the strings forum...
Players either love 'em or hate 'em. No real trend one way or the other.

I once tried coated strings and while they looked good (black) they were kinda dull sounding. Back in the day, playing Jersey shore clubs, you needed a bit of punch to cut thru. I notice there are different widths - light, medium... I assume the lights don't hold up well? Also, wouldn't you need to readjust your settings for a smaller gauge string set?
 
#40
I'd check Harmonycentral.com for product reviews. These reviews are mostly unbiased from people like us who actually own the equipment they’re commenting on. But you have to be mindful that not everyone giving their 2 cents are reliable. Some are knucklehead kids and others are clueless. However, just by the review you can often tell if the reviewer knows what they are talking about. Generally I find it to be a good place to at least get the gist of what the item you're shopping for might be like.

As for strings, I use D'Addarios, GHS, or Super Slinky round wounds, medium/light gauge. These tend to be around $20 give or take a few dollars. I'd say these brands are fairly standard. Elixirs are supposed to be good and last forever but they're quite pricey. I don't fuss too much about strings to be honest. I set my bass up for a certain gauge and just try to stick with anything on sale that's not complete crap at the same gauge. Besides, I've heard most strings are made by the same company anyway (true?).

BTW, how much are you actually looking to spend on an amp? I often read threads where someone is asking for an inexpensive item and then have replies suggesting items that are clearly beyond their budget (though I know they mean well).

r
 

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